Young Leaders Program FAQ
Frequently asked questions and answers to some questions young people often have about the Young Leaders Program and Local Community Leaders Program.
We define disability broadly. If you feel you are disabled or have a disability, or you consider yourself to have a condition that impacts your daily life, you can apply for the Young Leaders Program.
You can also apply if you identify as:
- Neurodivergent
- Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing
- Having lived experience of mental health issues
- Blind or have low vision
- Having a chronic illness
We trust you and how you identify. You don’t need to have a diagnosis.
We will ask you about your access needs. This helps us to remove any barriers so that you can participate fully in the Young Leaders Program.
We want to give as many people as possible a chance to do our program, so we will usually prioritise someone who has not done it before.
If you think there is an important reason for you to attend again, you can apply, but you will need to be very clear about why you think you should attend again.
Yes. Please consider, though, that the room may be full of people who do share that they have a disability. They may assume you have a disability, because that’s how we talk about the program.
We will also want to know, privately, about your access needs so we can remove any barriers so you can participate fully.
No. We choose age ranges very carefully, and arrange our programs to be safe and inclusive for those ages. However, if you are going to be the right age for the program when the main workshops happen, then you are able to apply.
If you turn 26 during the workshops, you will also not be eligible. This is because a lot of what we offer participants is limited to being 25 or under.
Please check the age range for a program carefully. It is always on the sign-up form.
If you can only come for 1 day, we suggest you wait for the next series of workshops. You will get more out of the Young Leaders Program if you attend at least half of the workshops.
Yes. Our workshops are held online using Zoom, and hybrid meetings mean you can attend in-person or on Zoom. You can join from anywhere in Victoria.
We also offer travel and accommodation options for rural Victorians, where our funding allows.
No. Our programs are only open to young people who live in Victoria.
Yes, but we really want your students to play an active part in the application process. At the very least, they must know that you are applying on their behalf to the program and understand what the program is. You must have informed consent.
It is also mandatory that we have their direct contact information, including their phone number and email address. Please do not use your or the school’s contact information as your student’s main contact.
Yes, but we really want your child to play an active part in the application process. At the very least, they must know that you are applying on their behalf to the program and understand what the program is. You must have informed consent.
It is also mandatory that we have their direct contact information, including their phone number and email address. You can put your own information in the parent/guardian/second contact section.
We designed the program with young people who had a range of different needs. The activities and communications are as diverse as we can make them.
We also ask you about your access needs in the application form, which helps us make the workshops accessible for you.
We remove barriers wherever we can find them, so you can get the most out of the leadership program.
Here are some examples of accessibility during the workshops:
- Your workbooks are both digital and printed. They are sent to you in advance so you can take your time and prepare, or do the tasks in a way that works best for you.
- Workbooks also act as a social script, helping you know what to expect, and how to take part.
- Activities during the workshop do not rely on the workbook being completed, so you can still fully participate during workshops even if you never touch the workbook.
- During in-person workshops we have a quiet room. It has comfy seats and bean bags. You can use it to take a break at anytime.
- During online workshops, we encourage participants to take breaks, turn their cameras and mics off, and move around as they need to. We call this “taking a moment.”
Yes. Please let us know in your application.
We may need to do some safety checks on any adults attending the program.
Yes, if required. You will need to let us know on your application form or by contacting us if you need an Auslan interpreter. This gives us enough time to book them in advance.
We do not provide support workers for personal needs, but we do have a trained safety and wellbeing officer on site, in Zoom calls or on standby. They can support you with a range of needs, including mental health support, and assistance with any activities or discussions in the program.
Yes! All of our workshops are held either online, or hybrid, meaning even if it’s in-person, you can still choose to attend by Zoom instead.
We want you to feel safe and comfortable during the Program.
We ask you about your access needs in the application form, which will help us make the workshops accessible for you.
We also follow up with shortlisted applicants to make sure the workshops are as accessible as possible for you.
We remove barriers wherever we can find them, so you can get the most out of the leadership program.
When we have speakers, they will often have intersectional experience, including disability and mental health advocates.
Here are some examples of how we try to make the workshops safe for people with mental health conditions:
- Facilitators have mental health first aid training.
- We aim to have a safety and wellbeing officer attending, who can support you.
- We give you workshop materials in advance to help identify what may be a trigger.
Before the workshops start, we speak to all participants.
In this conversation, we ask about any cultural or identity groups you may be part of, and how we can make the workshops safe and comfortable.
You can also share any issues or feedback with us. We are very open to changing the workshops and want to make them as safe and comfortable as possible for all cultural groups.
Here are some examples of what we already do:
- Acknowledge Country at the start of each workshop.
- Include an advocacy activity focused on gender issues.
- Share our pronouns if we are comfortable to encourage correct usage.
- Make sure participants can take breaks for or take part in cultural practices.
- Respond to any disrespect that may occur and ensure it does not happen again.
- If someone continues to disrespect other members of the group, we will ask that person to leave.
Here are some other leadership programs that focus on cultural areas:
To make Australia a better place for disabled young people!
We do this by supporting disabled young leaders to get leadership roles, and grow their power and influence in society.
We want graduating disabled young people to take up leadership and decision-making roles throughout Australia.
We will announce who speakers are for your workshop when we send you your program material. This usually happens one to two weeks before your workshop starts.
Past speakers have included:
- Amy Marks, media creative and disability advocate.
- Anja Homburg, disability advocacy and engagement worker.
- Brigid Canny, former CEO of YLab.
- Carly Findlay, author, editor and appearance activist.
- Chloe Hayden, actor, author and disability rights advocate.
- Cindy Liu, youth advocate and disability rights advocate.
- Emily Unity, lived-experience consultant and mental health advocate.
- Gayle Kennedy, award-winning writer and disability advocate.
- Mac Zamani, writer and disability inclusion advocate.
- Martin Stewart, disability activist and self-advocacy advocate.
- Swathi Shanmukhasundaram, lawyer, youth advocate and community worker.
During the workshops, you will:
- Get skills, knowledge and confidence in leadership.
- Find out more about your own leadership styles.
- Develop your team work, communication, and goal setting skills.
- Find out more about disability, access and inclusion.
- Learn about human rights and standing up for yourself and issues you believe in.
- Make new friends and connections with other disabled leaders.
After the workshops, you will:
- Get a reference from the YDAS team that can help you get a job or into a course.
- Get ongoing leadership opportunities.
Everyone has a different leadership style and journey. The most important thing is to show up and contribute. That is the best way to learn and get something out of our leadership programs.
When they are online they are held using Zoom.
When in-person/hybrid, they are usually at our office, Level 14, 242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.
If the location is different, our sign-up form and the main page for the program will tell you.
Yes, but check our website for details.
We will try to tell you within 2 weeks of the application closing date. This may change based on the numbers of people who apply.
We always tell everyone whether they got in or not, but not as fast as everyone might like. We are a small team who do our best, and we have to focus on signing up successful applicants first. Then, if anyone drops out or withdraws during that time, we contact others to fill that spot.
If you do not hear from us by the time the workshop is starting, you might want to assume you were not accepted into the program this time. However, you might be contacted a bit later to be invited as a replacement. It is OK if you do not get into the program or cannot attend.
We usually limit the number of people in each workshop series to no more than 15 people. That gives you enough time to work with other young leaders. It also gives the YDAS team enough time to spend with each young leader.
Answer the questions in the application form as honestly and deeply as you can. This helps us understand who you are and why you want to join the Program. We find it helpful to have a lot of detail. When you share your goals, we want to know when you hope to achieve them, why they are important to you, and how they apply to leadership.
Leadership means lots of different things. It can also mean advocacy, management, coordination, speaking up for others or organising a group.
You do not have to lead in disability or youth or advocacy. You can lead in anything. We have had leaders in fields from social justice, the arts, race cars and even being the head of their own family. We welcome all types of leadership.
For your experience, focus on what you have done so far. If you do not have a lot of experience, you can still show you have done something in the past related to leadership. That helps us understand how our program can support applicants.
Make sure you share your leadership goals. Even if you do not have any yet, you can talk about what you want to explore. We want to understand what you want to get out of this program, and how we can help. And to make sure our program is a good fit for your goals.
No. Apply in a way that works best for you.
The most important thing is that you apply!
To apply, you can:
- Fill out the application form
- Call us
- Text us
- Record a video
- Record a video using Auslan
- Record an audio message
Just make sure you answer the questions that are listed on the application form when you apply.
Yes, but you can only attend 1 workshop series.
Yes, if you are under 18 years old. We send successful applicants a consent form, but it is a good idea to check with your parents or guardians before you apply.
If you might have trouble getting that consent or permission, please contact us. We know not everyone’s family is safe or easy to get permission from.
Yes! You can apply again if you still meet the application criteria.
We will email you, or send you notification via your preferred communication method.
We try to find paid and volunteer opportunities for young leaders who graduate from our program. We find opportunities in a wide range of areas including:
- sport
- arts
- business
- community groups
- disability advocacy
- social opportunities
- research
There are lots of different ways to be a leader, including:
- Organising a group of people.
- Speaking up about something that is important to you.
- Writing about something that is important to you and sharing it with others.
Other people may tell you or see you as a leader.
If you want to be a leader, you are on the right path.
We would love to explore running the program with you. We can offer fee-for-service options, and sometimes we are funded to run programs for organisations.
That is okay! It is normal to feel that way before starting something new. Others in the workshops will probably be feeling the same way.
Try not to let that stop you from joining. Great things can happen when you push yourself outside your comfort zone.
Most people who join feeling nervous, end up leaving feeling accomplished and proud. Remember this is a safe space and staff are well-trained to support you.
Some things that can help, include:
- Let us know in your application form what we can do to help make the space comfortable for you. We already do lots of things to help everyone feel included. Some of these include: communicating in lots of different ways, sending you workshop material in advance, developing a group agreement and more!
- We have regular breaks during the workshops. You can also take a break whenever you need to.
- Ask us lots of questions. We might be able to ease some of your concerns before you even begin.
- Think about some tools that help you manage your nerves. This might be mindfulness exercises, breathing exercises or sensory tools. If you are joining an online workshop, it might be having your pet cat/dog/lizard with you!